Jigorō Kanō

Kanō Jigorō was born in Mikage (now part of Kobe), Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, into a prominent sake brewing family. A small and sickly youth during Japan's rapid Meiji modernization, Kanō was bullied by classmates in Tokyo, prompting him to study traditional jujutsu under masters Fukuda Hachinosuke and Iikubo Tsunetoshi. Discarding dangerous techniques that caused injury, Kanō synthesized classical techniques into a new educational discipline founded on science, anatomy, and moral philosophy.

In May 1882, at age twenty-one, Kanō established the Kōdōkan Judo Institute at the Eishō-ji Buddhist temple in Tokyo with only twelve tatami mats and nine students. Kanō named his art 'Judo' (the Gentle Way), defining its two fundamental philosophical pillars: Seiryoku Zenyō (Maximum Efficiency, Minimum Effort) and Jita Kyōei (Mutual Welfare and Benefit). He invented the modern colored belt ranking system (dan/kyu) and white gi uniform now ubiquitous in martial arts worldwide.

A distinguished professor and President of Tokyo Higher Normal School, Kanō was appointed the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee in 1909 by Pierre de Coubertin. He campaigned tirelessly to internationalize sport, securing the 1940 Olympic Games for Tokyo (later cancelled due to World War II). On 4 May 1938, returning from the IOC general assembly in Cairo, Kanō died of pneumonia aboard the liner Hikawa Maru, celebrated as the father of modern Olympic martial arts.